Speaker List

Debbie Almontaser is the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, New York. The first public school focused on Arabic language and culture in the United States, the school became the focus of controversy months before it opened when opponents began a media onslaught accusing the school of "imbuing pan-Arabism and anti-Zionism, proselytizing for Islam, and promoting Islamist sympathies".

At the age of 18, Rebekka became a Playboy Playmate after being chosen to be Miss September 1986, a culmination of her childhood dream. For the next four years, she led an exciting life as a Playmate, traveling, modeling, and attending star-studded parties. However, she was often tired and bruised easily. At the age of 22, she was diagnosed with HIV.

Chris Myers Asch conceived of the U.S. Public Service Academy in order to help America give its young people more opportunities to serve their country in a meaningful way outside of the military.

At the age of 10, Gabriel Bol Deng was separated from his family and became a refugee; after twenty years of separation he returned to his home village in Sudan and founded 'H.O.P.E. for Sudan', a non-profit supporting education in his home village. An inspiring story about the power of hope.

From the Internet to the iPod, technologies are transforming our society and empowering us as citizens, creators, and consumers. But new media technologies and their legal implications are turning everyday acts into prosecutable offences. In the name of fighting "pirates," the music and entertainment industry are pushing to extend copyright law and limit everyone's fair use rights. Where will it stop? Will everyone eventually be a copyright criminal?

Laura "Piece" Kelley was crowned Seattle Grand Slam Champion for 2004-2005, and featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam. She is the Executive Director of the 'Think Big Foundation'. In 'Political Poetry: Art as Activism In Urban Culture', she traces the revolutionary roots of hip hop culture and its elements, including rap, dance, graffiti and visual arts.

Does art merely reflect a deeply damaged world, or can it inspire change? Jen Marlowe, director, author, and human rights activist, explores this question with audiences or classes made up of playwrights, filmmakers, visual artists, activists, students and others.

After a tumultuous childhood marred by sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape, Carly Milne found herself in her own personal version of rock bottom, looking for a way up and out.

Prof. David Montgomery has discovered that the roughly 3 foot-deep skin of our planet is being slowly eroded away, and we are in danger of suffering the same fate as the fallen empires of Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece, and Rome. Montgomery is the author of 'Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations,' which makes the case that we are using up Earth's soil.

David Morse is a nationally recognized journalist and human rights activist, advocating on behalf of Darfur and South Sudan. He gives heartfelt and informative lectures that benefit from his first-hand experience.

As medical technology becomes more advanced, it's falling into the hands of body hackers, people who enhance and change their bodies instead of just curing disease. Meanwhile, in traditional medicine, patients are encouraged to be active and informed, educating themselves about the latest medical research and taking control of their treatment. Where should we draw the line?

Phil Plait talks about Bad Astronomy with a humorous look at popular science myths and misconceptions.

Rebuilding Hope chronicles the homecoming to South Sudan of Gabriel Bol Deng, Garang Mayuol and Koor Garang, and their efforts to develop healthcare, clean water and education in their villages. All three were forced to flee their homes twenty years ago as young children, when militiamen led violent attacks on their villages. They crossed South Sudan on foot, surviving disease and paralyzing hunger to reach safety in a refugee camp in Ethiopia and then Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, before coming to the US in 2001. In 2007, accompanied by filmmaker Jen Marlowe and journalist David Morse, Gabriel Bol, Koor and Garang returned to Sudan to seek their families and help their communities.

Socheata Poeuv is the founder of Khmer Legacies, which has the goal of recording 10,000 testimonies of survivors of the Cambodian genocide by encouraging children to interview their parents. Her award-winning documentary New Year Baby documents her family's story of survival and healing.

All the seats at the hamburger joint were reserved for white patrons, so 13 year old Terrence Roberts ordered food to go. While waiting, he impulsively sat down at the counter and then realized a hush had fallen over the place. Suddenly everyone seemed to be looking at him threateningly. He canceled his order and left. As he walked home, Roberts remembers wondering "what it would take for (him) to be treated like a real human being."

Two years later, in 1957, he volunteered to be one of the 'Little Rock Nine' who desegregated Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

At nineteen, Lynn Marie Smith went from small town straight "A" student, to an aspiring actress in New York City. By twenty-three, she was living in a psychiatric ward nearly destroyed by drug addiction.

Jennifer Worick has interviewed therapists, CIA and FBI agents, stuntwomen, dating coaches, doctors,and university administrators to bring you the funniest stories and advice about dating, sex and college. Better yet, she offers solutions for the challenges that can derail even the luckiest, smartest college student. Whether you're trolling for dates at the campus watering hole or dating the same person since the 7th grade, this lecture offers a little something for everyone, touching on dating disasters, bedroom bungles, academic survival, and even stadium riots.

The September 11th attacks, the ongoing military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the "War on Terror," the recent Fort Hood shootings, and the Christmas day terrorist attempt to bring down a jetliner have all elevated the prejudices leading to discrimination, profiling, violation of constitutional rights and hate crimes in our society.